YREKA – As of Friday, the Yreka Police Department had responded to three reports of attempted burglaries at Miner Street businesses. The perpetrator(s) did not gain entry into the buildings. No arrests have been made.

According to Sgt. Mark Gilman, on Friday morning, officers received reports from the owners of Surroundings and MacGregor’s Gifts Grogg & Book Emporium that sometime Thursday night, somebody had attempted to pry their doors open.

At MacGregor’s, Gilman said officers observed that the side antique door had been kicked, its dead bolt was damaged and a prying tool had been used in an attempt to open it. The damage was estimated to be approximately $500.

When officers responded to Surroundings, they discovered that the metal door was bent and its dead bolt had been damaged. The damage was estimated to be more than $1,000, said Gilman.

Earlier last week, the door and dead bolt at Natural Selections was also damaged when sometime during the night, a prying tool was used in what Gilman said appeared to be an attempt to gain entry into the business.

“This is really sad. There are not a lot of downtown businesses,” said Natural Selections owner Ellen Janson. She asserted that these repairs are a financial hardship on business owners. Furthermore, she noted that Natural Selections and Surroundings (which are in the same building) do not leave cash in the store at night.

Gerilee Shinn, owner of Surroundings, commented that damages such as these could drive up insurance rates and building rental costs.

Gilman said the attempted burglaries are under investigation. Anyone with information about these crimes are urged to call the police at 841-2300.